Resilient wheel.



W. A. GEHRINGER.

RESILIENT WHEEL. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10,1913.

1,083,396. Patented @11.6.1914,

WILLIAM A. GEHRINGER, OF ALLENTGWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

RESILIENT WHEEL.

incasso.

T 0 alla/17mm it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. GEH- RINGER,a citizen of the United States, residing at Allentown, in the county ofLehigh and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Resilient lVheels, of which the following is aspecification, refeence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in resilient vehicle wheels, andan object thereof is the provision of a wheel of this character in whicha plurality of pneumatic balls are arranged to absorb the shocks imposedupon the wheel.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a wheel having aplurality of pneumatic balls supported therein, the balls being arrangedbetween the hub and the rim of the wheel so that liability of punctureis lessened.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a resilientwheel comprising a hub and an inner and outer rim, the rims beingspaced, and a plurality of pneumatic balls arranged between the innerrim and the hub, the outer rim being connected t0 the balls, wherebylimited movement of the outer rim relative to the inner rim of the wheelis allowed.

wWith these and other objects in view my invention consists incertainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts to behereinafter more fully described, claimed and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of mydevice; and Fig. 2 is a transverse section thereof.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designatesthe hub of my improved wheel, and 2 the spokes, to the outer ends ofwhich is connected the rim 3. The outer rim 4 which is of relativelygreater diameter than the inner rim 3, is spaced from the inner rim, andconnected to the opposite edges of the outer rim by bolts 5 or othersuitable fastening means are pairs of guide plates 6, which extendinwardly from the outer rim between the spokes. Formed in the oppositeedges of the inner rim 3 between the spokes 2, are recesses 7 in whichballs 8 are seated, the plates 6 being adapted to rest against the balls8, thereby reducing the friction between the plates 6 and the inner rim.The inner ends of each pair of plates 6 are formed with openings 9,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1913.

Patented J an. 6, 1914.

Serial No. 753,450.

in which the opposite end of a shaft 10 is rotatably mounted, the shaftsbeing formed with spaced washers 11 intermediate of their ends. A hollowrubber ball 12 is mounted upon each of the shafts 10, the washers 11bearing against the inner periphery of the balls, and suitable washers13 are disposed upon the shafts 10 to engage the outer periphery of theballs, whereby tight joints are formed between the balls 12 and theshafts 10. Each of the shafts is threaded upon its opposite ends as at14, and nuts 15 are adapted to engage upon the. threaded ends of theshafts to bear against the outer faces of the plates 6 to maintain theshafts in position. Each of the shaft-s 10 is provided with an air duct16 which extends from one end of the shaft to a point intermediate ofits ends, the .inner end of the duct being angular, as at 17, tocommunicate with the interior of the ball. Each shaft is provided on oneend with a reduced threaded nipple 18, which registers with the duct 16,whereby suitable means may be connected to the nipple to inflate thehollow ball 12. Preferably the outer rim 4 is formed of channeled metal,so that a solid rubber tire may be secured thereto.

The operation of my improved wheel is, as follows: In the practical usethereof the wheel is applied to the vehicle in the ordinary manner, andit will be seen from the drawing, that each of the balls 12 bears atdiametrically opposite points upon the outer face ofthe hub and theinner face of the inner rim, and upon the adjacent spokes, so thatmovement of t-he outer rim in any direct-ion is checked owing to theresiliency of the balls. The entire weight of the vehicle rests upon thepneumatic balls 12, and the shock ordinarily imposed upon the vehiclewhen the wheel strikes an obstruction is absorbed by all of the ballsowing to the engagement with the spokes of the wheel, and the hub andinner rim. Should any of the balls" become worn out through continueduse, they may be readily removed from the wheel by removing one plate 6of each pair, and a new ball and shaft 10 may be readily secured to thewheel.

Having thus fully described my invention what I desire to claim andsecure by Letters Patent is:

A vehicle wheel comprising a hub, a plurality of spokes radiating fromthe hub, an inner rim secured upon the outer extremities means forconducting compressed air to the interior 0ir the inflatable memberthrough which it extends, and anti-friction means 15 carried by thesides of the inner rim and adapted to eoact with the plates.

ln testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

VVILLAM A. GEHRNGER.

lVit-iiesses MABEL BERKEMEYER, Enw. F. BERKEMEYER.

of the spokes, a plurality of inflatable spherical members positionedbetween adjacent spokes and interposed between the periphery oi' the huband inner rim and engaging said spokes and hub and inner rim, an outerrim, a plurality of inwardly direeted plates secured upon the oppositesides et' the outer rim and arranged in pairs and lorichtgingthe innerrim, a shaft rotatably carried by the inner extremities of each pair ofplates and extending through one of the inflatable members, each shaftserving as Copies of `this patent may be obtained for five cents each,by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washingtolnl C.

